UN Youth Envoy in Istanbul, Turkey — speaks at opening ceremony of Bilgi University’s Master in Advanced European and International Studies programme

UN Youth Envoy in Istanbul, Turkey — speaks at opening ceremony of Bilgi University’s Master in Advanced European and International Studies programme

The UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi, currently on an official mission to Turkey, spoke yesterday at Bilgi University’s opening ceremony of this year’s “Master in Advanced European and International Studies.” The programme is a joint undertaking between Bilgi University and the Institut Europeen- European Institute in Istanbul, where the Youth Envoy delivered the inaugural lecture on “The UN’s Commitment to Youth in the 21st Century.”

Ahmad Alhendawi giving a lecture at Bilgi University, Istanbul

In his remarks, the Envoy — himself a graduate of the programme, — encouraged the students and young people across the globe to “be global citizens and focus in your research on the ongoing debate on evaluating the impact of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and setting the post-2015 development agenda.” Alhendawi also presented the UN strategy on working with youth, including through the so-called System-Wide Action Plan.

Today and yesterday, the Youth Envoy together with UN Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Communications and Public Information Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal are participating in the 20th International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle-East, organised by the UN Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.

In his opening remarks, USG Launsky-Tieffenthal stated that Turkish support “is not confined to this Middle East seminar. Hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria have sought shelter in this country over the past two and a half years, and the Turkish people and their Government deserve enormous credit and recognition for the hospitality they have shown.”

In a message from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, delivered by Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal, the Secretary-General urged journalists, activists, policy-makers and representatives of civil society attending the seminar to “continue to advance peace and increase mutual understanding between communities, especially Palestinians and Israelis.”

Ahmad Alhendawi at the panel discussion “Youth activism, digital journalism and social media in the Middle-East

This morning, Alhendawi moderated a panel on “Youth activism, digital journalism and social media in the Middle East.”